The following week flew by with an endless hamster wheel of assessments, conferences, curriculum meetings and staff trainings. Now on Friday night with Melody sound asleep in her room, Brooke relaxed in her bathtub surrounded by bubbles and warm water when her phone went off.

Seeing the text from Lincoln made Brooke draw her lower lip into her teeth as her cheeks heated. They had steadily been texting throughout the week but both had been busy with very long days. He sent her a picture of the new car he picked out earlier that day. A 2019 Tesla roadster convertible in gunmetal gray. It was gorgeous.

"Just got her home" is what the message read.

Brooke dried off her hand and set the phone to lean against her towel on the hamper then hit the call button.

"Well hello there," Came his baritone greeting.

Grinning as she settled into the still warm water and hummed, "Hello."

She heard his husky chuckle mixed with clinking of dishes in the background of the phone. "What are you doing? Were you sleeping?"

"No," She sighed laying her head back. "I'm soaking in the tub. It's been a long week."

"The bath, huh?" A new chiming ring sounded from her phone. Brooke smirked, dried her hand again then hit accept for the facetime call.

"Didn't believe me?" Brooke teased, resting her chin on the cold porcelain of the tub.

With both brows raised, Lincoln flicked his eyes at the screen. "Oh I believed you," His lips slowly turning upward in a wide grin. "I just wanted to see for myself."

"If we hadn't already bathed together, I might think you a bit creepy from that statement," Brooke giggled laying again back into the soothing water.

Lincoln chuckled and picked up his phone taking it with him as he walked through his apartment. "How was your week?"

"Long and hectic," Brooke sighed, gliding her loofa over her legs. "How is that case coming along?"

He groaned as he set the phone down in what looked to Brooke like a walk-in closet. The rustling of clothes told her he was probably changing. "Well," He sighed, pulling pajama pants on then heading into his bedroom as he spoke. "The good news is, we have gathered enough evidence to win. The bad news is, we can't get them to settle. I've tried everything so it will go to court and get dragged out."

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Brooke encouraged laying back now that she was washed and turned to face the phone. "Sometimes you have to think outside the box."

Lincoln thought for a long moment, staring just passed the phone screen, brows furrowed as if her suggestion sent him pondering. She rested her chin on her hands on the edge of the tub, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"You're kinda cute when you're thinking," She mused.

Emerald orbs set their heated gaze back onto the phone screen. "Is that tub big enough for two?" He smirked, reclining on the bed with his cheek propped on his hand.

"It could be," Brooke teased, adjusting the phone so she could get her towel. She dried off out of view then wrapped the fluffy fabric around her before picking up the phone. "I bit the bullet and replaced the original for a bigger one. I'm too tall for most bathtubs but love baths so it was worth the investment."

"You've been remodeling more than the kitchen?" Lincoln inquired, curious how extensive these renovations were.

"Mhmm," She hummed, running a brush through her damp hair.

While dressing in her pajamas, Brooke explained her parents dream of renovating the fixer upper but how they never got around to it. Priorities had shifted. She also explained the projects she had undertaken so far as well as future plans on her timeline between brushing her teeth, hair and taking her nightly vitamins.

"That's really impressive, Brooke," Lincoln complimented, glowing with admiration as she lit up sharing these details into her life.

"I feel like it's the least I can do for all my parents did for us growing up. All their sacrifices even into adulthood." She snuggled under her blankets, a heavy ache settling in her chest associated with missing her parents. "I miss them so much."

Seeing the shimmer of tears even through the phone made Lincoln want to be there to hold and comfort Brooke. Both of his parents were still living so he had no way of truly understanding her pain but wanted to give comfort nonetheless.

"I can tell they meant alot to you," He murmured.

"They did," A hot tear ran down her cheek. "Even when I made the worst life changing mistakes, they were there to help pick up the pieces."

Silence lingered for awhile as Brooke steadied her aching heart. Lincoln remained silent, unsure of what to say. What he wanted was to get in his car and drive to her but that could scare her off.

"You look tired, baby," Lincoln mused, laying flat on his dark colored pillow with a soft smile on his full lips.

Brooke snickered. "Is that a nice way of saying I look terrible?"

"No," Lincoln flinched, half laughing only because she was. "I wish I could be there to hold you and sleep. Keep you warm."

As if driven by jealousy from his comment, one of Brooke's cats leapt onto the bed and plopped beside her purring like a motor. Stroking her soft fur, Brooke gave a sly grin toward the phone.

"I'll be warm enough," She mused, scratching her cats cheek and tilting the phone so Lincoln could see the cat. "Won't we, baby? Yes we will. Yes, we will."

Lincoln shook his head and smirked. "Lucky cat. She's a fatty!"

She gave a sad look toward the phone. "She wasn't always like that."

"She sure is pretty though," Lincoln added. "What's her name?"

"This one is Misty and her sister is Bullseye because of her stripe pattern," She smiled, giving long stroke on the cat's back. "Dorian terrorized them, too. Misty got used to hoarding all the food I gave in the morning because he would yell and kick them if they were out. Bullseye lost a lot of weight because she didn't get to eat except when I was home. I have to feed them separately now."

Rubbing his hand over his face, Lincoln released a heavy sigh. "He really did a number on you, huh?"

She nodded in affirmation. "Misty has a bad hip from how he abused her. They don't trust anyone else except me. "

"That is understandable," He agreed letting out another sigh.

"I'm really tired," Brooke confessed, lying her head down onto her pillow.

"Alright," He smiled. "I'll let you sleep. We'll talk soon."

"Goodnight," She smiled warmly, hesitant to hang up but her eyes were growing heavy.

"Sweet dreams."

****

Sunday afternoon, Brooke and Melody pulled into the driveway, carrying canvas bags of groceries up to the porch. Still singing a song from the CD in the car, Melody was oblivious to her mother's sudden stiff posture and suspicious gaze toward an unfamiliar car parked across the street.

Their street in this neighborhood was quiet and peaceful. Everyone knew everyone since most residents were original from when Brooke's parents had moved in. A few neighbors had passed away and families sold the house but the new residents were friendly and kept to themselves.

Still, Brooke recognized every car except this one. Not to mention, it was rare that a car parked on the street. Most visitors parked in the driveways since it helped keep the neighborhood looking less cluttered. The dark shade of the car and the tinted windows added to her rapidly swelling suspicion. A silhouette moving in the front seat told her someone was sitting idle in the car.

"Melody, stand by the front door," Brooke hissed, turning her body to block the view of her daughter. A cold rush of fear ran through her body and she needed to get Melody inside.

As quickly as possible, Brooke unlocked the door and chucked the grocery bags along with her purse inside. "Sweetie, start putting the cold things away, please."

Holding her cell phone tightly in her hand, Brooke opened the camera app as she grabbed the handle of a garbage can, wheeling it behind her to the curbside. Trash pick up was later in the week, but the person spying probably didn't know that. She needed to get a vantage point to take a clear picture of the license plate and car.

The soft click of her phone's camera mixed with the din of birds chirping or flying around as she took several from many angles, peering around pretending not to look at the car. One of these pictures had to be good enough.

Now slowly strolling back toward the house, Brooke scrolled through her contacts to dial a fellow church member. She hadn't seen him in awhile since she stopped going to church. Her mother's death hit her hard and sent Brooke down a path of questioning. Brooke only attended now when asked to do music or children's story.

The old family friend answered after a few rings, "Is this little Brooklyn?" He chuckled mostly in disbelief of seeing her calling.

"Hi, Uncle Mark," Brooke replied unable to stop the wide grin from pulling at her lips. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well but would be much better seeing you and Melody at church again," He lightly scolded.

"I'm working on it, Uncle Mark," Brooke sighed, a cold heaviness of guilt settling in her belly. "Hey, I'm calling because I need a favor."

"Anything, Sweetheart. What do you need?"

Brooke smiled, feeling comfort channeled through the phone. "Can you call the Sheriff and have him drive by my house?"

"Is he there, Brooke?" The older man's voice dropped to a lower octave, his breathing sped up like he was walking quickly. Other incidences had introduced Dorian to church friends when he showed up at her church trying to take Melody as a baby.

"No," She answered immediately. "But there is an unfamiliar car across the street that is suspicious. I've never seen it before."

"I'll call him," Mark reassured. "Send me a picture to forward."

Brooke opened a text message to Mark, attached the clearest picture then hit send before returning the phone to her ear. "Done."

"Got it," He reported. "Get inside, lock the doors and windows. I'll call Greg as soon as we hang up."

"Thank you," Brooke sighed, feeling tremendously better with knowing her Dad's old friend who was now the Sheriff would be coming by the house in a few minutes.

"Anytime, Brooke."

****

Monday night, while Brooke and Melody were cooking dinner, the doorbell rang. It was late for visitors on a school night. Any neighbors usually called first plus Brooke wasn't expecting Leena or Trenton over. She told Melody to stay in the kitchen then closed the door as she crossed the living room toward the front door.

Through the peephole in the front door, Brooke saw a teenage boy with headphones around his neck holding a clipboard and pen. He looked around the porch in obvious boredom, probably selling something.

Brooke opened the door halfway smiling. "Hi, how can I help you?"

"Hi uh, are you Brooklyn Johnson?" The boy asked with a surprisingly low voice. He shifted nervously awaiting her answer.

Anxiety flooded her as she swallowed hard. "Yes, who is asking?"

"You've been served," He sighed, taking out a large manila envelope from the clipboard and shoving it toward her.

Brooke's jaw dropped in shock as the boy scampered away, slipping his headphones back on. She surveyed the street and saw the same dark colored car with tinted windows that was parked there last week. It had gone before the Sheriff arrived. She quickly ducked inside the house blinking away the onslaught of tears threatening to fall.

Tearing open the envelope, Brooke dreaded what she would see. Cold fear iced over her veins as she read the contents, hot tears spilling unforgivingly down her cheeks. Fighting back the sobs, Brooke dialed Leena's number.

Brooke spoke as soon as the ringing clicked, before Leena could verbalized her greeting. "I've been served."

"I'm on my way."

****

"I'm sorry, Brooke, but this is valid."

Fresh tears spilled down Brooke's cheeks. The following afternoon, Brooke was able to get someone to cover teaching her class for the rest of the day so she could meet with her attorney. The blow of this news hit her hard in the gut.

"This is unbelievable!" Brooke sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

Her attorney, Olivia Lauder, the "L" in "DFL & Associates Family Law Branch" felt helpless watching Brooke fall apart. She had represented Brooke since the bitter and dramatic beginning of her separation then later the divorce, guided through each legal threat from her ex and advised when Brooke accepted a job out of state.

"I'm sorry, Brooke," Olivia sighed. "I really am." She tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. "Your establishing residency in California, especially Los Angeles County should have been addressed months ago."

"My mom was sick," Brooke sobbed, wiping furiously at the shameful tears. "She died shortly after then my focus turned to work and helping Melody cope with the death."

Olivia wrote a few things down furiously on her legal pad. "We can bring all of that up in court. Get a certified copy of your mother's death certificate, any and all hospital records, funeral announcements et cetera. We will present it all as evidence for emotional duress."

Brooke nodded numbly, typing a list of those items into her phone. A thought dawned on her and she shook her head.

"Um...Dorian has been...calling me regularly over the last few weeks. He's been hostile, verbally abusive and has made threats to file for custody. He actually followed through. I can hardly believe it."

"He filed claiming negligence on your part, Brooke," Olivia stated cautiously. "What evidence could he have warranting that?"

Groaning as she rolled her eyes, Brooke sighed heavily. "He called me when I was out of town for a weekend. I left Brooke with Leena who is very responsible." Brooke's cheeks flushed as she twiddled her fingers shyly. "He assumed I was with someone."

"Were you?" Olivia asked blatantly. Brooke nodded affirmative and Olivia smirked, tapping her pen on the oak desk. "Good for you."

"He has no evidence of it, though," Brooke defended, the heat crawling up to the tips of her ears. "Leena was the court assigned visitation supervisor. I trust her with my child's life. Obviously."

"Brooke," Olivia lowered the volume of her voice, speaking gently with a soft smile. "There is no law against a parent taking a weekend off and leaving their child with a responsible babysitter. He's probably jealous you were with a guy." Her lips curved into a crooked smile. "Was it a romantic weekend?"

"Not intentionally," Brooke whispered, casting her eyes down at her feet. "We both ended up at the same destination thanks to our mutual friends clever set up."

Stretching her hand across the desk, Olivia tapped her fingers to get Brooke's attention. "You did nothing wrong by taking a weekend away. It would be more irresponsible of you to not see after your own mental health. You've been through alot this year."

"But I should have legally notified him I moved back."

Olivia nodded, leaning back in her leather chair. "But you should have notified him you had moved back. True, he would have demanded visitation but has he honored any of the video chats from the current parenting plan set up four years ago?"

Brooke shook her head. "Never. Not even once. I have it documented in a special calendar. Melody doesn't even remember who he is."

More notes were scribbled down her her pad. "We will submit that as evidence as well. No child support payments either?"

"As far as I know, the state never found him in the system," Brooke shrugged. "Since he is coming after me for visitation, I want to go after him for back support. What do I need to do?"

"Well," Olivia sighed, tapping her pen again. "First we need to find him. We've discussed in the past about hiring a private investigator through the court. Is that something you want to do now? It likely will be expensive."

"I don't care," Brooke frowned. "Let's do it."

Oh boy!  So much on Brooke's plate!  When will it all come to a head? hee hee hee

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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<3